Two police officers suffered injuries after prosecutors say a man fought them and tried to grab one of their guns during an arrest in North Chicago.
Andrew R. Hardister, 19, of Great Lakes, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer, two counts of resisting a peace officer causing injury, criminal damage to property and two counts of resisting a peace officer.
Officers responded to a criminal damage to property call on Saturday in North Chicago, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks.
A tow hitch had been thrown through a window. Video surveillance showed Hardister was believed to be the suspect.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on Hardister, who was the front-seat passenger in the car.
Officers told the man he was under arrest and began placing handcuffs on him.
Banks said that Hardister began punching at the officers and at one point reached for an officer’s gun.
He continued actively fighting with officers until they were able to place him into handcuffs, Banks said.
One officer received lacerations and another had a swollen wrist and scratches.
Court records show Hardister was out on bond at the time for resisting a peace officer and trespassing at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee in October.
Lake County Judge Paul Novak set Hardister’s bond at $250,000 during a bond hearing over the weekend.
Hardister’s attorney said at a bond review hearing Tuesday that his client is on active duty in the U.S. military based at Great Lakes.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak agreed to reduce Hardister’s bond to $10,000 at the request of Hardister’s attorney.
Hardister was released from the Lake County Jail on Wednesday after posting bond.